Air resistance reducer



Dec. 14, 1937. E. M. HADLEY 2,102,527

AIR RESISTANCE REDUCER Filed June 14, 1937 f 2/6/16 if M #4 5/6;

IWVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 14, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to air resistance reducers more particularly adapted for air craft, and has for an object to provide apparatus for charging the surface of aircraft with electricity 5 for decreasing air resistance.

Because of air resistance a large part of the energy produced by the motors of air craft, of either the heavier than air or the lighter than air type, is used up to overcome this resistance, and the greater the speed the greater the consumption of energy.

Attempts have been made to diminish air resistance by streamlining air foils and this is about the most effective method now known up to this time. According to the present invention it is proposed to overcome air resistance by utilizing the phenomenon that all parts of an electric charge tend, because of their mutual repulsions, to get as far as possible apart. It is well known that if a pear shaped body tapered to a fine point, is charged, the electric density on this conical end will become greater and greater toward the extreme point. By electric density is meant the quantity of electricity on unit area of surface. The pear shaped charged body discharges the electricity so efiectually at its point that if ones knuckle is presented to the knob only the shortest sparks can be drawn while a fine jet or brush of pale blue light will appear at the point when the knuckle is presented thereto. If a lighted taper be held in front of the point the flame will be visibly blown aside by the electrified air repelled from the point. These air currents can be felt with the hand.

If a pear shaped body is charged with electricity, and dropped, it will fall faster .through the air than a similar body not charged because the charged body reduces the air resistance. If the charge is increased further the air resistance will be correspondingly reduced.

The above described phenomenon is due to a mutual repulsion between the electrified air particles near the point and the electricity collected on the point itself. That this mutual reaction actually exists is proved by the electric fly or electric reaction wheel which consists of a light cross of brass suspended on a pivot, and having the pointed ends bent back at a right angle to trail behind. When placed on the prime conductor of the machine, or joined to it by a chain,

With the above in mind, the present invention provides electrical apparatus, and controllingmeans therefor, adapted to charge the entire surface area of a pear-shaped body, such as a dirigible balloon, or the wing and fuselage structures of airplanes, and to provide controlling apparatus for increasing the charge as the speed of the aircraft increases to the end that air resistance will be reduced to a greater extent than possible by the hitherto known mechanical methods. 7

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, it being understood that various modifications may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without I departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention. In the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification,

The figure is a diagrammatic view of electrical apparatus adapted to electrically charge the surface of aircraft.

Referring now to the drawing in which like characters of reference designate similar parts in the various views, the air resistance reducer is shown to comprise a plurality of induction coils I0, each consisting of primary and secondary windings around an iron core. Vibrator contacts l l are connected in series with the primary windings of the induction coils and are shunted by condensers l2. Leyden jar condensers l3 are connected in parallel with the secondary windings of the induction coils and discharge periodically across a spark gap H which is connected in series with the primary winding of a Tesla coil l5 through a variable inductance switch H5.

The actuation of the inductance coils H! in the primary circuit is governed by a rotating switch 18 to charge periodically the Leyden jars l3 in the secondary circuit IS. the primary circuit is controlled by a series of variable resistors 20.

When the voltage from the Leyden jars dis- The The voltage in l lightness and general usage, in surface structure of aircraft, is used in connection with the apparatus above described since it is a good conductor "of electricity.

The source of current supply preferably is a direct current generator 24 which is controlled by a main switch 25. For the purpose of lighthess, copper wire, alloyed with aluminum, is used in the construction of the induction coils.

In operation the charged surface of the aircraft will tend to reduce air resistance due to a mutual repulsion between the electrified air particles near the extreme point or fine edge of the streamlined aircraft structure, and the electricity collected on the fine edge or point itself causing air currents to be generated of the general shape shown by the broken lines in the figure. Due to the difference in the force of repulsion between the electrified air particles on the leading part of the aircraft structure, and that on the trailing part of the structure, a tendency to impart motion in the direction of travel of the aircraft is produced thus diminishing air resistance of the craft itself. As the speed of the craft increases the variable resistors 20 are manipulated as well as the selector switch I8 to increase the charge on the surface of the aircraft accordingly.

From the above description it is thought that the construction and operation of the invention will be fully understood without further explanation.

What is claimed is:

1. An air resistance reducer for aircraft of approximately pear-shaped cross section comprising means for supplying a charge of high a charge of high potential electric energy.

4. An air resistance reducer for aircraft comprising a plurality of induction coils, vibrator contacts in series with the primary windings of the induction coils, Leyden jar condensers connected in parallel with the secondary windings of the induction coils, a Tesla coil having the primary connected in series with the secondary windings of the induction coils, a variable induction switch for the Tesla coil, a rotating .switch controlling the actuation of the induction coils for charging periodically the Leyden jar, a variable resistor for controlling the voltage in the circuit containing the induction coils, the voltage from the Leyden jar being inductively transferred to the secondary winding of the Tesla coil, one end of the secondary winding of the Tesla coil being open, and the other end being adapted to be connected to the surface area of the aircraft to be electrically charged.

EVERE'I'I M. HADLEY. 

